Cancer Guide And Motivational Story And Also Treatments

My name is John Colacci. I am 43 years old, happily married with three children ages 6-11. And I stand before you today as a colorectal cancer patient mortified at the province’s state of health care system as it pertains to accessibility to life saving hospital infused cancer drugs. My cancer journey began 3 years ago, in September of 2004. I went to see my doctor for some observed rectal bleeding. I was reassured it was merely a colonic tear and then proceeded to wait 3 months before receiving the most horrific news of my life: YOU HAVE CANCER AND REQUIRE SURGERY.

Two months later I had the right lobe of my liver surgically removed which was riddled with plumb sized lesions. Nine months of intensive chemotherapy then followed. In March of this year, I was diagnosed with a reoccurrence of the disease and have since then resumed chemotherapy. Shortly after my reoccurrence, I had been informed by my doctor of a first line cancer drug that is recommended for my disease in Ontario but is unfortunately not funded by the province. Patients are expected to pay for the drug if they wish to access it. The drug is called avastin. I also learned that avastin is indeed fully funded in British Columbia and made available to every patient afflicted with cancer for the purpose of either offering a cure or extending their lives for as long as possible.

In July, I was informed that I have ceased responding to my treatment and that the disease is progressing. As a result, I am now traveling weekly to Amherst, NY to access a treatment which has been proven effective in saving and prolonging life in patients with colorectal cancer – the drug is erbitux and it is not available in Ontario. This is reprehensible not only to me and my family but to every cancer patient and their respective family in Ontario. This province is founded on so many just like myself who after being in years of good health have blindly and faithfully placed their trust in a healthcare system that chooses to fail them at a time when it is needed the most.

Cancer patients should not be fraught with the additional stress of funding costly cancer treatments while already faced with the overwhelming burden of this catastrophic disease. Nor should they be traveling to the U.S. to have their cancer treatments infused by U.S. doctors. These are additional burdens cast upon Ontario cancer patients by a government who chooses to place cost restraints above and before the health and welfare of its cancer patients.

We need to expand our focus and public funding needs to take place so that the needs of multiple type cancer patients become met by receiving the standard of care to which every one of us is entitled. I am asking that the Ontario government which has collected well over 2.5 billion dollars in health care premium dollars take a leadership position in Ontario in providing cancer patients access to newer intravenous cancer drugs and accessibility to PET scan imaging. I fully support the Ontario Citizens Cancer Coalition Campaign in association with CARP/50 Plus. Thank You.
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Today is a special day for me, it's 4 years of pain, scars, personal struggles, and emotional trauma's. Roller coastering through life with cancer. It's also much more than that to me. It's how far I've come, how much a human really can endure and "LIVE" to tell about it. It's about how to fight and strive and make your dreams come true no matter what life throws in your path. It's about how to pick up the pieces of a personal hurricane in your life and put it back together again. My scars serve to remind me day after day of what a warrior I am. A reminder that one battle after another, I may have been wounded but I did survive and came out the victor. I will win the war!

My physical pain has reminded me to be humble, never to judge another till you walk in their shoe's and that I am only human. My mental pain takes longer to heal but life does goes on and you can't spend your time living in the past, you must live in the now and make the best of whatever is given you.

All the loss has taught me you can go on and move ahead regardless of your loss. You take one day at a time and rebuild and regroup. You really can loose your friends, your family, your home, and your job and hit bottom and get back up again. When it's all said and done, only your health can't be replaced.

Cancer, has become my friend, my job, my home, and my life. I have learned to embrace it and keep it close. Cancer is not my enemy it's just my way of life. It is as much a part of me as my right arm, my best friends, my children. It just "IS". I have made it, I have survived, I am the warrior and so much more, I am woman hear me roar!
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